OTRC: 'Zero Dark Thirty' tops weekend box office with $24.4 million

The controversial drama, which is nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, earned $24.4 million in its debut weekend, according to the Associated Press.

The film, which received heavy criticism due to the vivid torture scenes, tells the story of the American efforts to hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden. Jessica Chastain stars as a Maya, a young CIA officer who becomes obsessed with finding the former Al Qaeda leader. It was directed by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow.

Coming in second place for the weekend box office was the horror comedy film "A Haunted House," and in a close third was the crime drama "Gangster Squad."